Locable runners

ABSTRACT

A runner has a conventional back-set bearing and bearing pivot. An axially movable pin passes through the pivot to operate retaining components in the runner fork to lock the wheel against running and/or swivelling movement. The pin is operated by a trip cam housed in a casing which surrounds the pivot and locking pin. The casing may be made in two half-shells and has a lower beading which engages in a groove of the bearing pivot. The casing forms an attachment plug whereby the runner can be fitted to a foot of an article of furniture.

United States Patent I Stosberg et a1.

[54] LOCABLE RUNNERS [72] Inventors: Herbert Stosberg; HorstFleischmann, both of Wermelskirchen-Tente/Rhineland; Gunter Reinhards,Wermelskirchen/Rhineland; Siegfried Engels, Wermelskirchen, all ofGermany [73] Assignee: Firm Tente-Rollen Gesellschaft mit beschrankterHaftung Companie, Wermelskirchen-Tente/Rhineland, Germany [22] Filed:Nov. 9, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 88,005

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data April 29, 1970 Germany ..G7 016058.6

[52] U.S.Cl ..16/35,188/1 51 'Int.' Cl. .B60b 33/00 [58] Field of Search..16/35, 35 D, 43

1151 31795143 1 45 Beer. 12, 1972 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,065,495 11/1962 Hefferon et al ..l6/43 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 1,427,040 12/1965 France ..l6/35 Primary Examiner-Bobby R.Gay Assistant ExaminerDoris L. Troutman Attorney-Burgess, Dinklage &Sprung [57] ABSTRACT 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDnu: 12 1912SHEEI 1 0F 3 Fig.2

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This invention relates to a runner, in particular to a castor, with alocking device for arresting therunning and/or swivelling movement ofthe wheel, which castor has a back-set bearing pivot and back-setbearing through which passes an axially movable locking pin, on whichpin a trip cam or the like acts. By the axial displacement of thelocking pin passing through the backset bearing pivot, retainingcomponents, arranged in the hollow of the runner fork, are brought intoengagement with one another and thus effect the locking of the rotaryand/or swivelling movement of the wheel.

With such runners it is in general a question of centrally lockablecastors, which are especially intended for articles of furniture such asmovable sick or hospital beds. The centrally lockablecastors aregenerally actuated by means of a central locking device via rods orcable controls, which control trip cams or other members such aseccentrics, wedge or key systems for example, as disclosed in GermanGebrauchsmuster Specification 1 928 153. 3

In order to achievetrouble-free operation it is necessary for these rodor shift systems to be incorporated with high precision into the frameof the bed or other article of furniture. However this is associatedwith difficulties in production because of the usual welded tubularconstruction of such frames.

Since the trip cams or other actuating members for acting on the lockingpins of the locking rollers are component parts of the frame of the bedor other article of furniture, and since tolerances must be provided forthis and for the locking rollers, a uniform locking of all the rollersof a sick bed or other article of furniture is not always ensured.

It is often necessary therefore to correct the set dimension or toadjust it to the particular tubular foot of the bed or articleoffurniture, in order to achieve the optimum locking of all runners.These setting operations must therefore be effectedon the finished bedor other article of furniture when the runners are fastened in thetubular feet of the bed or article of furniture by means of theirback-set bearing pivot, because the trip I cams or other actuatingmembers for acting on the axially movable locking pin belong to the bedor furniture frame. These subsequent adjustment operations are verytime-consuming and require specialized knowledge.

The inventionobviates these disadvantages and provides a runner, inparticular a castor, which even during assembly of the runner, can beaccurately adjusted from the first so that subsequent adjustingoperations, after the runner has been mounted in the frame of the bed orother article of furniture frame, is no longer necessary.

According to the invention there is provided a runner, in particular acastor, with a locking device for arresting the running and/orswivelling movement of 'the wheel, said runner having a back-set bearingand pivot, an axially movable locking pin passing through said bearingand pivot and a trip cam orjthe like arranged to act on saidlocking pin,wherein the trip cam or the like is arranged in a casing which enclosessaid pivot and the locking pin over substantially their entire extent,and which is a component part of the runner and forms a substantiallysmooth attachment plug by which the runner can be fitted into a tubularfoot or the like.

Since the trip cam or the other actuating member is then a componentpart of the runner, the runner can be adjusted, during its assembly, inrespect of the correct co-operation' of the trip cam and locking pin andis thus ready for installation, so that the tolerances of the bed frameor the like can no longer have a disadvantageous effect.

A particularly advantageous further development of the invention ischaracterized in that the trip cam or the like is supported in a casingcomposed of two half shells, which casing encloses the back-set bearingpivot and the locking pin substantially over their entire extent andwhich is a component part of the runner and forms the substantiallysmooth attachment plug for the fitting of the runner in a tubular footof the like.

The invention offers among others the advantage that the wall thicknessof the casing or of the casinghalf shells pushed over and enclosing thetrip cam or the like can be varied in order to be able to use one andthe same runner for fitting in tubular feet of different innerdiameters.

In order that the casing composed of the two halfshells, in the upperpart of which the trip cam'or the like is accommodated and supported, isfixed firmly on the back-set bearing of the runner, the two casingshells can be provided at their lower end with an inner beading withwhich they engage in an outer groove of the back-set bearing pivot.

The two casing shells can be held together at their upper and lower endsby rings. Thus the lower retaining ring can act simultaneously as a tubeend ring of the tubular foot. v

The casing or the two casing shells can consist of metal or plastics orother suitable materials. Their construction as die-cast metalcomponents is particularly advantageous. Preferably the two casingshells consist of zinc die-castings.

The trip cam supported in the casing or two casing shells has anon-circular bore preferably with a flat on one side, in which theoperating lever or the shift linkage can be inserted force-lockingly andfixed so as to rotate therewith, when the runner is fixed in the tubularfoot of the bed frame of the like. The bore of the trip cam can alsohowever have a different profile which allows a control lever or shiftlinkage to be accommodated force-'lockingly and fixed so as to rotatetherewith.

A specific embodiment of the invention in connection with a centrallylockable castor for sick beds will now be described by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the castor ready for installation, in section;

FIG. 2 shows a detail of the arrangement of the trip cam in the casing,in lateral section;

FIG. 3 shows only the casing of FIG. 1 composed of two half-shells, withthe trip cam supported therein and with a control lever inserted, partlyin section;

FIG. 4 shows the castor of FIG. 1 after its installation in a tubularfoot, in section; and

FIG. 5 shows the arrangement of the trip cam in the casing after theinsertion of the casing in the tubular foot, in lateral section.

As shown in the drawings, the castor comprises a runner fork 2 holding awheel 1 and a back-set bearing 3, which here is a swivel bearing and iscomposed of an outer ball cup 4, an inner ball cup 5 and balls 6. Aback-set bearing pivot 7 is fastened to the back-set bearing 3 in theusual manner by means of facetting and flanging. A locking pin 8 issupported axially movably in the back-set bearing pivot 7, which pin isprevented from rotating by a lateral flat 9. The locking pin 8 ismushroom-shaped and is provided at its lower end portion with a mushroomhead 10, which can move axially together with the locking pin. In thehollow 2a inside the fork 2 a pawl 11 is pivotably supported by means ofa spindle 12. Both the mushroom head of the locking pin 8 and the pawl ll have coinciding coni cal ratchet teeth 12 and 13, which mesh with oneanother when through actuation of the central locking device the tripcam 14 is rotated and thus presses on a cap nut 15 and consequentlypushes the locking pin 8 downwards in its axial direction, in order toforce the pawl 11 against the wheel 1. Now the wheel 1 is arrested bothin its swivelling movement and its rotary motion and thus the castor iscompletely locked.

The trip cam 14 is supported in the upper portion of a casing 16, whichhere encloses the back-set bearing pivot 7 and the back-set bearing pin8 over their entire extent. The casing 16 is a component part of thecastor and forms an outwardly smooth attachment plug, by means of whichthe castor can be fitted into a tubular foot 24 (FIG. 4).

The casing 16 consists of two half-shells 16a and 16b which here encloseover their entire extent the back-set bearing pivot 7 and the lockingpin 8. The casing shells 16a and 16b have at their lower end an innerbeading 17, with which they engage in an outer groove 18 of the back-setbearing pivot 7 and they are thereby connected to this latter axiallyimmovable. At their upper and lower ends the casing shells 16a and 16bare held together by rings 19 and 20. The lower retainer ring 20 actssimultaneously as a tube end ring of the tubular foot 24 (FIG. 4). Thetwo casing shells 16a and 16b and therefore the casing 16 formedtherefrom are here diecast metal components and in this case consist ofzinc die-castings, they could however just as well be pressed orinjection moulded from a suitable plastics material.

Since the trip cam 14 on account of its mounting in the casing 16 is acomponent part of the castor, the castor can be accurately adjustedduring its assembly in respect of the co-operation of the trip cam 14and locking pin 7 by means of the cap nut 15 and an associated lock nut15a, so that the castor is ready for installation and will not need tobe subsequently adjusted when it is inserted in the tubular foot 24 ofthe bed frame or other piece of furniture and is secured therein bymeans of a screw 25.

Now all that is necessary is to push the control lever or shift linkage26 by its flattened end through the registering bores 21 and 22 of thetubular foot 24 and through the casing 16 into the corresponding bore 23flat on one side of the trip cam 14. As the castor has been set readyfor installation by means of the casing 16 and the trip cam 14 supportedtherein, it is possible to obtain from the first an optimum locking ofall the runners of the bed frame, without further adjustments beingnecessary.

We claim:

1. In a runner, preferably a castor, comprising a housing structure withan axis and a running wheel rotatable on said axis, a back-set bearingpivot arranged on said housing structure, an axially movable locking pinpassing through the bearing pivot, trip camming means arranged to act onsaid locking pin, and securing means arranged in said housing structureto be acted on by said locking pin to lock the running and/or swivellingmovement of the wheel,'the improvement which comprises a casingenclosing said bearing pivot and locking pin over substantially theirentire extent, and forming an integral component part of the runner,said trip camming means being movably but inlosably enclosed within saidcasing and supported in said casing and force connected to said lockingpin and forming an integral component part of the runner, said casingforming a substantially smooth attachment plug by means of which therunner can be fitted in a tubular foot and the like and having near itsupper end at least one horizontal bore which coincides with a bore ofsaid trip camming means being enclosed in said casing to receive acontrol lever of said camming means.

2. A runner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing is formed of twohalf shells. I

3. A runner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing is a die-castmetal component, for instance, of zinc.

4. A runner as claimed in claim 2, wherein the two half-shells aredie-cast metal components, for instance, of zinc.

5. In a runner, preferably a castor, as claimed in claim 1, which runnercomprises a housing structure with an axis and a running wheel rotatableon said axis, a back-bearing pivot arranged on said housing structure,an axially movable locking pin passing through the bearing pivot, tripcamming means arranged above the upper end of said bearing pivot to acton the head of said locking pin, and securing means arranged in saidhousing structure to be acted on by said locking pin to lock the runningand/or swiveling movement of the wheel, wherein there are twohalf-shells forming a casing enclosing said bearing pivot and lockingpin over substantially their entire extent, and forming an integralcomponent part of the runner, said camming means being movably butinlosebly enclosed within said casing and supported in said casing abovethe upper end of said bearing pivot and force connected to said lockingpin and being turnable in said casing for acting on the head of saidlocking pin and form ing an integral component part of the runner, saidtwo halfshells of said casing forming a substantially smooth attachmentplug by means of which the runner can be fitted into a tubular foot andthe like, which plug having near its upper end at least one horizontalbore arranged in at least one said half-shell which coincides with abore of said trip camming means being enclosed in said casing to receivea control lever of said camming means after inserting or fitting saidplug into a tubular foot or the like.

6. A runner as claimed in claim 5, wherein each halfshell has at itslower end an inner beading, and the back-set bearing pivot has an outergroove in which said headings engage.

7. A runner as claimed in claim 5, wherein the two casing half-shellsare held together at their upper and lower ends by retainer rings.

8. A runner as claimed in claim 7, wherein the lower retainer ringsimultaneously acts as a'tube end ring of said tubular foot and thelike. 7

9. A runner as claimed in claim 5, wherein the two casing half-shellsare die-cast metal components.

10. A runner as claimed in claim 9, wherein the casing half-shellsconsists of zinc castings.

1. In a runner, preferably a castor, comprising a housing structure withan axis and a running wheel rotatable on said axis, a back-set bearingpivot arranged on said housing structure, an axially movable locking pinpassing through the bearing pivot, trip camming means arranged to act onsaid locking pin, and securing means arranged in said housing structureto be acted on by said locking pin to lock the running and/or swivellingmovement of the wheel, the improvement which comprises a casingenclosing said bearing pivot and locking pin over substantially theirentire extent, and forming an integral component part of the runner,said trip camming means being movably but inlosably enclosed within saidcasing and supported in said casing and force cOnnected to said lockingpin and forming an integral component part of the runner, said casingforming a substantially smooth attachment plug by means of which therunner can be fitted in a tubular foot and the like and having near itsupper end at least one horizontal bore which coincides with a bore ofsaid trip camming means being enclosed in said casing to receive acontrol lever of said camming means.
 2. A runner as claimed in claim 1,wherein the casing is formed of two half shells.
 3. A runner as claimedin claim 1, wherein the casing is a die-cast metal component, forinstance, of zinc.
 4. A runner as claimed in claim 2, wherein the twohalf-shells are die-cast metal components, for instance, of zinc.
 5. Ina runner, preferably a castor, as claimed in claim 1, which runnercomprises a housing structure with an axis and a running wheel rotatableon said axis, a back-bearing pivot arranged on said housing structure,an axially movable locking pin passing through the bearing pivot, tripcamming means arranged above the upper end of said bearing pivot to acton the head of said locking pin, and securing means arranged in saidhousing structure to be acted on by said locking pin to lock the runningand/or swiveling movement of the wheel, wherein there are twohalf-shells forming a casing enclosing said bearing pivot and lockingpin over substantially their entire extent, and forming an integralcomponent part of the runner, said camming means being movably butinlosebly enclosed within said casing and supported in said casing abovethe upper end of said bearing pivot and force connected to said lockingpin and being turnable in said casing for acting on the head of saidlocking pin and form ing an integral component part of the runner, saidtwo half-shells of said casing forming a substantially smooth attachmentplug by means of which the runner can be fitted into a tubular foot andthe like, which plug having near its upper end at least one horizontalbore arranged in at least one said half-shell which coincides with abore of said trip camming means being enclosed in said casing to receivea control lever of said camming means after inserting or fitting saidplug into a tubular foot or the like.
 6. A runner as claimed in claim 5,wherein each half-shell has at its lower end an inner beading, and theback-set bearing pivot has an outer groove in which said beadingsengage.
 7. A runner as claimed in claim 5, wherein the two casinghalf-shells are held together at their upper and lower ends by retainerrings.
 8. A runner as claimed in claim 7, wherein the lower retainerring simultaneously acts as a tube end ring of said tubular foot and thelike.
 9. A runner as claimed in claim 5, wherein the two casinghalf-shells are die-cast metal components.
 10. A runner as claimed inclaim 9, wherein the casing half-shells consists of zinc castings.